Means for connecting multi-conductor cables



Nov. 20, 1962 G. H, LEONARD MEANS FOR CONNECTING MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLESFiled Feb. 9, 1959 1962 G. H. LEONARD 7 3,065,441

MEANS FOR CONNECTING MULTI,CONDUCTOR CABLES Filed Feb. 9, 1959 5SheetsSheet 2 Nov. 20, 1962 G. H. LEONARD MEANS FOR CONNECTINGMULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 9, 1959 Nov. 20, 1962MEANS FOR CONNECTING MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLES Filed Feb. 9, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 4 G. H. LEONARD 3,065,441

Nov. 20, 1962 G. H. LEONARD MEANS FOR CONNECTING MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLES5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1959 United States Patent 1 3,065,441MEANS FOR CONNECTING MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLES George H. Leonard, Darien,Conn, assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Feb. R, 1959,Ser. No. 791,966 27 Claims. (Cl. 339-49) This invention relates ingeneral to a separable electrical connector for multi-conductor cables,and more particularly to a contact assembly for such connectors whichincludes a pair of panels for carrying the connecting elements, one ofthe panels typically being the outlet for an 3,05,44l Patented Nov. 20,1962 ice FIGURE 3 illustrates in perspective a stand-off element carriedwithin the housing shell;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional side view of the connector taken substantiallyalong the center line of FIGURES 1a electrical device, such as acomputer, and the other being secured in a portable housing adapted tobe coupled by actuation of a connecting mechanism to the device outlet.

As design desiderata, the contact assembly of such a connectorelectrically should provide a stable and absolutely reliable contactover a wide temperature range for high and low voltage level circuitswith a negligible noise introduction factor, and mechanically shouldhave a long life under hard usage while being simple, inexpensive, easyto disassemble and reassemble without the use of tooling, with thecomponent parts for the mating sections being reversible andinterchangeable to reduce the number of different parts to a minimum.Overall, the connector should have no critical tolerances, but the partsshould interfit with precision while being simple and foolproof inoperation.

A wide variety of connectors are available in the art, but all in moreor less respects fail to provide the desired characteristics.

The principal advantage of the present invention is the provision ofcomponents by which the aforesaid design desiderata may be united in oneconstruction of a multicontact connector.

The embodiment to be described as illustrative of the present inventionis also advantageous in that the operating mechanism and associatedpanel are housed in a portable unit adapted to be mechanically coupled,with or without the contact elements being engaged, to a similar panelmounted on a stationary electrical device, the contact coupling actionsmoothly bringing the contact elements in the sets into engagementsimultaneously.

Other advantages and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon an examination of the drawingsand the following detailed specification which show and describe apreferred embodiment; it is to be'understo'od; however, that thisembodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting on theinvention but, on the contrary, is given for purposes of illustration inorder that others skilled in the art may fully understand the inventionand the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practicaluse so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each as maybe best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1a and FIGURE 1b are perspective views of an'embodiment of aseparable connector assembly according to the present-invention, thepair of units constituting the assembly being separated but in alignmentready to be connected;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the housing shell for theconnector unit of FIGURE 1b;

and 1b, but with the units being in closed interconnected position andcertain parts being shown in elevation for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but with the connector unitsoperatively partly disconnected;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but with the connector unitsoperatively fully disconnected and ready for separation, parts beingbroken away for the sake of clarity;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view along lines 77 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the actuating lever and cam arrangementof the connector unit of FIG- URE lb;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of thecontact elements and supporting panels when the connector units areclosed as in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, but taken when the connectorunits are disposed as in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 1111 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a contact element attachedto a wire connector;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a panel element carried byeither one of the units of the connector assembly to illustrate thedetails of an aperture in which a contact element may be inserted;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged, perspective view of the panel element;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged, perspective view showing the opposite side ofa panel element similar to that of FIGURE 1.4;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective 'view of a bracket for mounting a panelelement in the connector unit of FIG- URE In;

FIGURE 17 is a plan view of the strain relief assembly for introducing acable into the connector unit of FIG- URE 1b;

FIGURE 18 is a side view, partly in section and partly broken away forclarity, of the strain relief assembly; and

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a grommet or packing element carriedwithin the strain relief assembly.

In the drawings the illustrative embodiment of the separable connectorassembly of the present invention in general includes a pair of units Aand B adapted to be brought operatively together to complete amultiplicity of circuit paths through the assembly, unit A being set forexample in the control board or some convenient portion in the housing2, fragmentarily shown in FIGURE la, of a computing, printing oraccounting machine or similar device, and constituting the electricalcoupling into the internal electrical circuitry of the device. Unit Bcomprises a portable coupling mechanism serving to support and connectselectively the various wires of an external cable 4 to the appropriatewires brought to unit A.

Units A and B each include a panel 6a and 6b carrying, preferably by areleasable snap-fit arrangement in aper tures 8a and 8b, cooperatingsets of contact elements ltla and Nb which terminate the respective setsof conductor wires 12a and 12b to be electrically coupled when the unitsare operatively brought together. It will be appreciated that eachassembly of an A and B unit may accommodate as many connections asdesired, a typical embodiment providing 200 circuit connections, whilethere additionally may be incorporated in a particular electricalinstallation several A units to which any one or more of several B unitsmay be joined. Further, it is contemplated that the pair of panel andcontact connector elements may alone comprise the units of the assemblyaccording to the requirements of a particular use, all as will becomeapparent from the followingdetailed description.

Certain of the parts comprising units A and B of the illustratedembodiment are advantageously of identical construction and character.In the description and drawings such parts are designated by a givenreference numeral when referred to in general, an a or b being appendedto the numeral to indicate their incorporation in either unit A or unitB respectively.

For achieving simplicity in fabrication and assembly panels 6a and 6badvantageously are identical and of relatively hard, molded insulationmaterial, and of generally square configuration. The contact receivingapertures 8, FIGURES 14 and 15, usually in rows and columns, extendthrough the flat main body portionlil of the panels each aperturepreferably having locator indicia, such as a number not shown, formedduring molding of the panel. As best shown in FIGURES 9 to 11 and 13,the passageway defined by each aperture is generally rectangular andextends straight through the panel body. From the top wall of theaperture, however, an integral projection defines inclined wall portions13 and 14 which symmetrically converge inwardly from both faces of thepanel to a flat central portion 15 where the aperture is essentiallyreduced in cross-section. A pair of stops I6 and 18 extending inwardlyfrom the sidewalls centrally of the aperture each provide stop shoulderssymmetrically facing opposite ends of the aperture. Extending along thebottom wall is a groove 19 all for purposes to be explained. A flange orhood 20 projects outwardly from one face of the panel brim. A channel 22extending around body 11. within flange 20 is congruous with a head 24raised outwardly from the other face of the panel whereby when twopanels are properly brought together the bead 24a of one is guided byflange 2% in loose interfitting relation into groove 22b of the other,FIGURES 4 to 7, for assuring aligned and substantially parallel planarrelative movement of the panels. For axially polarizing the panels, oneach inside wall of flange 20 is a pair of bosses 26 which are inalignment with a pair of recesses 28 on the outside wall of bead 24, thespacing of the various pairs of bosses being different so that they willinterfere with the admission of head 24 into groove 22 unless the panelsare oriented to bring the desired pair of apertures 8a and 8b intoopposition.

Centrally of body 11 is a generally square aperture 36 from the cornersof which inwardly project integral lugs 32 inset from both faces of thepanel for flush mounting on either panel side a keeper plate 34, as bythreaded bolts 36 inserted through bolt holes 38 in lugs 32 andcooperating with suitably threaded bolt holes 49 in plate 34, FIG- URESla and 7. Lugs 32 and bolt holes 38 and 40 are symmetrically arranged sothat keeper plate 34 may be clamped to the desired panel face in any oneof four possible axial orientations for polarization purposes to be madeapparent. A slot 42, centrally extends inwardly from an edge of keeperplate 34a, provides at its bottom lip a seat for a notch 46 in end 4-8of latch 50 pivotally mounted in housing 52 of unit B. Latch 50,preferably stamped from suitable flat sheet metal stock, at its end 48projects through relatively longer slot 44 of keeper plate 34b and isadapted to be inserted in slot 4-2 of keeper plate 34a, FIGURES 4 to 7,upon coupling of the assembly units, the longer length of slot 44permitting suflicient travel of latch end 48 therein to seat notch 46fully over the bottom edge of shorter slot 42, FIGURE 4.

For mounting the panels in assembly units A and B, a rib 54 extendsaround the panel periphery from substantially the mid-point of the panelthickness, except for discontinuities at each of the panel corners.Flange 2G is reduced in thickness at the panel corners to define withrib 54 shoulders 56, FIGURES 14 and 15. In unit A rib 54a is received ingroove 58 of a frame or bracket 60 adapted to be afiixed to machinehousing 2, as by bolts 62 in FIGURE 1a, which frame for convenience inassembly preferably is segmented, for example, in four similar cornersegments, one segment 64 being shown in FIGURE 16 and in phantom inposition on panelo in FIGURE 15 Each segment 64 carries asemi-cylindrical guide block 66 curved to fit between shoulder 56 aroundthe panel corners and of a length to upstand well beyond the panel face.

Housing 52, which may be a shell cast of a suitable metal such as a zincor a lightweight aluminum alloy, of unit B is open at one side toreceive panel 611, FIGURES 4 to 7. The ends of a series of integral ribs68 provide stops against which the sides of rib 54b abut for positioningthe outside panel face substantially flush with the edges 70 definingthe housing opening. Approximately centrally of housing 52 is areentrant hollow standard 72 terminating in an internally threadedspindle 74 in alignment with bolt hole 763 of keeper plate 34b so thatbolt 78 passed therethrough into spindle 74 serves to clamp panel 6brigidly in the housing. If desired a cylindrical spacer 80 may beinterposed between spindle 74 and keeper plate 34b.

From the foregoing it should be observed that a panel 6 may be set ineither of units A or B with either panel face exposed. Thus, aparticular setting of panel 6a in unit A, such as is shown in FIGURE lawith bead 24a facing outwardly of the associated machine housing 2 andkeeper plate 34a set in one of its four possible orientations relativeto polarizing recesses 28, fixes the setting of panel 6b in unit B inone of eight possible positions for the units to engage. Otherwise, forthe setting shown, either bead 24b will abut bead 24a or the axialorientation of unit B and panel 61) required to mate polarizing bosses26 in recesses 24 will find slot 42a misaligned with latch end 48,thereby interfering with and preventing coupling of the assembly.Accordingly, in an installation requiring several separable connectorsit has been made possible to assure to at least eight combinations thatno other than the desired unit B will be coupled to a given unit A.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 to 12, contact elements 10 are shown indetail. To admit of panel reversibility while retaining the wiringflexibility of snap-in inserts, contact elements 10 are constructed tobe insertable or released from either face of the panels advantageouslywithout the use of tools. Again, for simplicity in fabrication andassembly the contact inserts are of single, hermaphrodite design and ofsuitable resilient metal, preferably of sheet stock so as to be capableof fabrication by progressive die-stamping techniques well known in theart. After formation a series of completed, preformed blanksconveniently may be left and thus adapted to be connected by aconventional integral carrier strip so handled in reels for feeding toautomatic or semiautomatic terminal applying machines, typified byHandel Patent No. 2,705,797, issued April 12, 1955, which detaches theindividual contact inserts from the strip and affixes them to conductorwires 12 presented to the machine, preferably by solderless cold-forgingor crimping methods well known in the art, see Macy Patent No.2,600,012.

To these purposes contact inserts 10 of each include a shank or baseportion 84 from the rear end of which longitudinally extends a wirebarrel portion 86 for crimping on the metal core of wire 12 and, if desied, 8J1 insulation support barrel portion 88 for gripping the insulationof wire 12, the barrel portions being formed from laterally extendingpairs of ears defining wire receiving troughs conventional in the art.Upstanding from the sides of base 84 to a greater height than the heightof reduced section 15 of the apertures, FIGURE 11, are a pair ofresiliently supported wings 9t and 92, the free ends thereof being bentaway from one another to provide plates 94- and 96 which cooperate inwidth and height with the walls of the aperture to seat the contactelement in a snug fit. From the forward edge of plate 96 extends anelongated spring arm. 98 inclined downwardly toward the plane base 84-to bias downwardly toward the base plane a contact finger 166 which isgenerally parallel to but offset from the longitudinal axis of theinsert. Contact finger 100 provides the means for electrically engagingunder spring pressure the opposed contact insert in the opposite panel,the spring arm being of a length to project the contact finger outwardlyof the panel carrying it. Plate 94 has a side extension which is bentdownwardly and then inwardly toward and in a plane parallel to the baseto provide a plate 101 from the forward end of which extends a contactplate 102 in oifset relation to the longitudinal axis of the insert andin opposition to contact finger 100. Contact plate 1%?2 is thus disposedso as to be engaged by the opposed contact finger of the mating insertwhen the panels are brought together. The free end of plate 162 isturned down to provide a latching detent 1% arranged to snap over theedge of the aperture for retaining the insert in the panel. A lateralshoulder 1415 of plate 96 together with the forward edge of plate 94define stop shoulders for engaging stops 16 and 18 as best shown inFIGURES 9 and 10.

It will be observed that in the symmetry of the aperture passageway, twopairs of symmetrically related stop shoulders are provided, i.e. eitherface of stops 16 and 18 taken with the face of the panel at the remoteend of the aperture, whereby the contact elements may be inserted fromeither side of the panel. Accordingly, on introducing the contact insertinto a panel aperture, plate 96 will first engage sloping wall portion13 or 14, as the case may be, as base portion 84 and ferrules 86 and 38ride in groove 1 and plate 101 on the aperture bottom wall. As theinsertion force is increased, plate 96 will be resiliently cammeddownwardly into face-to-face engagement with wall portion 15 at thereduced portion of the aperture, increasing the downward bias of springarm 98 and acting to press plate 101 and detent 104 firmly against theaperture bottom wall until detent 104 snaps in place over the apertureedge as shoulder 105 and the forward edge of plate 94 engage stops 16and 18. The contact insert may easily be released when desired byraising detent 194 above the aperture edge, and withdrawing the insertby wire 12.

With each contact ltla seated in one direction in apertures 8a in panel6a and each contact b seated in reverse direction in apertures 8b ofpanel 6b, alignment of the apertures brings contact fingers 199a andltltlb respectively into alignment with contact plates 1021) and 102a,FIGURE 10, whereupon direct axial movement of the panels toward oneanother causes the projecting contact fingers to enter into the opposedapertures and to engage and slide on the contact plates under the springpressure of spring arms 98a and 98b, FIGURES 9 and 11, the tips 196a and1496b of the contact fingers being curved inwardly to provide a ramp forcamming the fingers onto the surface of the contact plates. In thisconnection for protecting the exposed, projecting contact fingers 1%when the assembly units are separated, flange 20 and bead 241 preferablyare raised farther, relative to the panel faces, than the projection ofthe contact fingers.

The dual path of contact and frictional engagement thus provided eachpair of wires 12a and 12b by the terminal contact inserts obviouslyenhances the connection reliability therebetween, for example, when onepath corrodes, or becomes pitted, etc. the other may yet function.Contact reliability may be further enhanced by plating the base metal ofthe inserts with gold, silver, or the like, especially when low voltagesignals are to be transmitted.

To increase the quality of the electrical contact between.

the contact inserts further, it is desired that in the coupling of theassembly the ultimate areas of engagement of fingers 160 on plates 162be automatically prewiped to cleanse the contact areas of any foreignmatter. To this end the assembly includes a rotary-to-reciprocatingmotion transmitting mechanism which, in the coupling or connecting throwof an operating lever, first moves the panels axially toward one anotherto cause contact fingers 1th] to engage I and traverse under pressuredefined paths of contact longitudinally along the associated contactplates 162, thus prewiping or scrubbing the contact plates, and thenaxially separates the panels to a predetermined distance causing thecontact fingers to be partly withdrawn along the paths of contact onplates 162 to place the ultimate areas of engagement at an intermediatepoint of the contact paths.

In the illustrated embodiment the rotary-to-reciprocating motiontransmitting and coupling mechanism is mounted in unit B, as best shownin FIGURES b, 2 and 4 t0 8, and includes latch 50, a circular opening188 therein remote from end 48 receiving in pivotal relation acylindrical cam block which is eccentrically supported for rotationbetween opposed external walls 112 of housing 52 on a pin 114 forcefitted in transversely aligned holes 116 in the rear portion of thehousing. Latch 50 is admitted into the interior of housing 52 through aslot 118 in standard 72 for projection through keeper plate 34b andultimate engagement with keeper plate 3%, and is biased, clockwise inFIGURES 4 through 6, by a tension spring 126 fixed at one end to housing52 and at the other end to the latch, to urge its end 48 downwardly toseat notch 46 on the lower edge of slot 42. Eccentric cam 110 is rotatedby operating lever 122 which is provided with a bracket 124 having acylindrical bore 126 for receiving the cam block and bifurcated to forma clevis for receiving between the arms thereof and stabilizing thepivotal end of latch 58. Flat pins 128 inserted in appropriate slotsserve to key earn 110 for rotation with lever 122, the end of which maybe enlarged to provide an operating handle 139.

As indicated in FIGURES 4 and 6, lever 122 is rotatable overapproximately 180 between housing stop 132 defining the closed positionof the assembly, FIGURE 4, and stop 134 in the decoupling of theassembly, FIGURE 6. In moving between these stops lever 122 is arrangedto rotate the high point of cam 110 from a position between but belowthe center line of pin 114 and the bottom edge of slot 42, FIGURE 6,clockwise to a position above and beyond the center line, FIGURE 4,thereby relatively reciprocating latch 54 from a maximum extendedposition, to the right in FIGURE 6, through a maximum retracted positionwhere the high point of the cam passes the center line, to anintermediate forward position.

In operation unit B is manually brought in alignment with unit A,FIGURES la and 1b, except that handle is down adjacent stop 134, andthen is moved forwardly causing guide blocks 66 relatively to enterhousing 52 between shoulders 56b of panel 6b, guide blocks 66 preterablybeing beveled for easy entry. Should the panels be properly polarized,unit B may then be slid on guide blocks edge of the slot. As nowdisposed, generally as indicated in FIGURE 5, bead 24a has partlyentered channel 22b assuring precise opposition of apertures 8a and 8b,but

the panels are separated sufiiciently far that the contactelements arenot yet interengaged, see FIGURE 10. Rotating handle 130 and cam block116 now tends to shift latch 50 rearwardly, to the left in FIGURES and6, however the latch is relatively fixed in position by virtue of itscoupling to keeper plate 34a of panel 6a. The reaction of rotating thecam block first forces housing 52 and panel 6b through pin 114 towardpanel 6a, simultaneously engaging the contact elements, until the camhigh point arrives at the center line as described. Thereafter, untilstop 132 is reached, continued rotation of handle 1341 effects thedesired partial separation of the panels and the resultant partialretracing of the paths of contact between the contact elements, FIGURE9.

In the arrangement illustrated, the point of engagement of latch 50 withkeeper plate 34a is as close as practical to the dynamic center of thespring system represented by the contact elements as a Whole so thatapplication of the connecting force produces no tendency to disalign theunits from the desired axial approach toward one another.

Under certain conditions it will be desirable to have the unitselectrically disconnected but mechanically coupled. In this event theunits are left, either in the coupling or decoupling stroke of theoperating lever, approximately in the position as shown in FIGURE 5Where latch 50 re-' tains the units together, the weight of unit B beingborne by guide blocks 66, while the contact elements are disengaged, seeFIGURE 10.

To decouple the contacts and separate the assembly units it is necessaryonly to rotate handle 13d counterclockwise, thereby reversing thecoupling action except that, in the final few degrees of throw, the end136 of lever 122 is arranged to engage and kick latch St} upwardly, FIG-URE 6, to unseat notch 46 from keeper plate 34a whereupon unit B may bedetached. In this connection in order to assure that the contactelements remain disengaged in those circumstances where the units aredesired to remain mechanically coupled, and further to balance theapplied connecting and retractile forces and assure axial movement ofthe panels, auxiliary stabilization means are preferably provided. Forthis purpose in the illustrative embodiment a pair of stand ofi plates138 are slidably mounted in either side of housing 52, each plate havingan internal end forming a bearing 14%} slidably guided on a pin 142which may be integrally cast with the housing and extends forwardlytherein adjacent the base of standard 72. Bearings 140 are admittedthrough the side of standard 72 by openings 144 and are disposedimmediately forward in parallel overlapping relation to bracket 124which has a cylindrical surface eccentrically disposed relative to pin114 for camming the bearings forwardly in the decoupling throw of lever122 similar to the action of cam block 110 and latch 50.

Stand oif plates 138 each terminate forwardly in a pair of spacedfingers 146 disposed in the corners of housing 52 so as to be inalignment with the end faces of guide blocks 66 when the units areassembled. By virtue of bearings 140 being driven by cam block 110, theaxial space relation between fingers 146 and notch 46 of latch 50remains essentially constant. Fingers 146 are arranged to be positionedimmediately adjacent the end faces of guide blocks 66, as best shown inFIGURE 6, as latch end 48 comes into engagement with keeper plate 34a.Thus, regardless of the axial relation of the main body of unit Brelative to unit A, fingers 146 are forcibly maintained by cam block 110at least immediately adjacent guide blocks 66 so long as latch end 48engages keeper plate 34a, thereby resisting any action tending todisalign the axes of the units. Stand off plates 138 are guided formovement with latch 56 by ribs 148, FIG- URE 2, providing channels inthe housing in which the side edges of the plates adjacent fingers 146are adapted individual wires from the stress imposed by the cableweight. With particular reference to FIGURES 17 to 19 in conjunctionwith FIGURES 2 and 4 to 7, heads define a segmented channel 152 adjacenta generally U- shaped opening in the bottom wall of housing 52. Flanges154 of bottom cover plate 156 are slidable in channels 152 for locatingthe cover plate substantially flush in the bottom opening of thehousing. Rib 157 on the inner side of plate 156 is disposed so as to beengaged by rib 54b when panel 6b is clamped in place for securing plate156 and the strain relief assembly in position in the housing. Integralwith plate 156 is an apertured Well 158 through which cable 4- is passedinto housing 52, the conical bottom 160 of the well providing a seat forannular packing 162 of rubber or similar resilient material. A gland 164slidably received in Well 153 is adapted to be driven against packing162 by bolts 166 extending through the well and threaded into the glandthereby to squeeze and extrude the packing inwardly against cable 4 forstrain relief support, the bearing surfaces 168 of the gland beingconical in mirror image of well bottom 160.

FIGURE 19 illustrates in detail packing 162 which is generallytriangular or trapezoidal in cross-section. A series of equally spacedradial slots 1'70 terminating just short of the cylindrical insidesurface render the packing more flexible in use, and essentially dividethe packing into spaced, preferably equal sections, more or less ofwhich may be removed by severing through the thin inside wall accordingto the size of cable 4.

'For convenience a series of numerals of descending magnitude may bemolded integrally on the outer walls respectively of the set of thepacking sections, the numerals corresponding to the various cable sizescontemplated to be used whereby the person who assembles the connectormay cut off those packing sections indicating a larger cable size thanthe one being installed. On so doing, the inner diameter of the packingis thus conveniently matched with the cable diameter.

In the event, on matching the inside packing diameter to a relativelysmall diameter cable in use, so many of the packing sections are removedthat the conical bearing surfaces of gland 164 and well 158 do notadequately grip therebetween the sloping outside surfaces of thepacking, conical adapter or take-up rings 172 may be positioned oneither side of the packing as shown in FIGURE 18.

The flexibility imparted to the packing by virtue of slots 170 reducesconsiderably the forces with which gland 164 must be driven to expandthe packing radially inwardly. In addition where the angle ofinclination to the cable axis of conical surfaces 164} and 168 aresteep, a self-constricting characteristics is advantageously imparted tothe packing. That is, the frictional drag between the cable and thepacking, on any axial movement of the cable, will cause the packing tobecome more tighlty wedged between the cable and bearing surface 164) orIt will now be apparent that the present invention provides a separableelectrical coupling device which is compact, of inexpensive constructionwhile being simple and fool-proof in operation, yet capable ofaccommodating a large number of wires to be joined in a manner wherebythe circuit paths are easy and convenient to establish or revise.Furthermore, the assembly components are highly versatile in use, forexample, under certain conditions only the pair of panels with theassociated contact inserts may be employed, relying on the frictionalloading of the inserts to hang the panels together.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theduplicate nature of many of the assembly components achieves anoncriticality in the overall tolerances hitherto impossible withprevious devices of the type to which this invention relates. Forexample, panels 6 may be the product of a single mold assuring precisealignment of apertures 8a and 8b regardless of any irregularity in thespacing of apertures in any one panel.

I claim:

1. A separable electrical connector comprising a pair of interengageableunits each including a panel carrying a set of contacts, the contacts ofone set being adapted for engagement with the respective contacts of theother set on coaxial movement of the panels face-to-face, operatingmeans including a latch member reciprocably mounted in one unit relativeto the panel thereof and engageable with complementary means in theother unit for coupling the units together, guide means arranged in saidunits to define a coaxial path of relative movement of said panels andalign said panels in opposed parallel relation with the sets of contactsin aligned disengaged position on engagement of said latch means, saidoperating means further including a driving member operative toreciprocate said latch member for relatively reciprocating said panelsalong said guide means for engaging and disengaging the contact sets.

2. A separable connector according to claim 1 wherein the end portion ofsaid latch member provides a hook projecting through a central openingin the panel of said one unit for engagement with a keeper platecentrally mounted in the panel of the other unit.

3. Aseparable electrical connector comprising a pair of interengageableunits each including a panel carrying a set of contacts, the contacts ofone set being adapted for engagement with the respective contacts of theother set on coaxial movement of the panels face-to-face, operatingmeans including a latch member reciprocably mounted in one unit relativeto the panel thereof, the end portion of said latch. member projectingthrough a central opening in the panel of said one unit for engaging akeeper plate centrally mounted in the panel of the other unit to couplethe units together, said operating means further including a drivingmember operative to reciprocate said latch member for relativelyreciprocating said panels coaxially for engaging and disengaging thecontact sets, said latch member engaging said keeper plate to couple theunits mechanically before the contact sets. engage electrically in thecoaxial engaging movement of the connector units, and supporting meanson one unit cooperative with the other unit on mechanical coupling ofthe latch member and keeper plate to retain the units in mechanicallyengaged, electrically disengaged position.

4. A separable electrical connector comprising a pair of interengageableunits each including a panel carrying a. set of contacts, the contactsof one set being adapted for linear sliding engagement with therespective contacts of the other set on coaxial movement of the panelsfaceto-face, operating means including latch means in one unitengageable with complementary means in the other unit for coupling theunits together, guide means arranged in said units to define a coaxialpath of relative move- .ent of said panels and align said panels inopposed parallel relation on engagement of said latch means, saidoperating means further including rotary-to-reciprocating motiontransmitting means having a driving member rotatable in one direction toreciprocate said panels along said guide means to cause the contact setsrelatively to slide linearly first in. one direction and then in thereverse direction, and means for stopping rotation of said drivingmember before the contact sets completely retrace the path of slidingcontact, said driving member being rotatable in a reverse direction todisengage the contact sets.

5. A separable electrical connector comprising a pair of interengageableunits each including a panel carrying a set of contacts, the contacts ofone set being adapted for engagement with the respective contacts of theother set on coaxial movement of the panels face-to-face, operatingmeans including latch means in one unit engageable with complementarymeans in the other unit for coupling the units together, guide meansarranged in said units to define a coaxial path of relative movement ofsaid panels and align said panels in opposed parallel relation with thesets of contacts in aligned disengaged position on engagement of saidlatch means, said operating means further includingrotary-to-reciprocating motion transmitting means having a drivingmember rotatable in one direction to reciprocate said panels along saidguide means to cause the contact sets to engage and slide linearly firstin one direction and then in the reverse direction, and means forstopping rotation of said driving member before the contact setscompletely retrace the path of sliding contact, said driving memberbeing rotatable in a reverse direction to disengage the contact sets.

6. A separable electrical connector comprising a pair of interengageableunits each including a panel carrying a set of contacts, the contacts ofone set being adapted for linear sliding. engagement with the respectivecontacts of the other set on coaxial movement of the panels face-toface,operating means including a latch member reciprocably mounted in oneunit relative to the panel thereof and engageable with complementarymeans in the other unit for coupling the units together, guide meansarranged in said units to define a coaxial path of relative movement ofsaid panels and align said panels in opposed parallel relation with thesets of contacts in aligned disengaged position on engagement of saidlatch member,

said operating means further including rotary-to-recip rocating motiontransmitting means coupled to said latch member and having a drivingmember forwardly rotatable to reciprocate said latch member, the axis ofrotation of said driving member being fixed relative to the panel ofsaid one unit whereby forward rotation of said driving member moves saidpanels relatively along said guide means to cause the contact setsrelatively to engage andslide linearly first in one direction and thenin the reverse direction, and means for stopping rotation of saiddriving member before the contact sets completely retrace the path ofsliding contact, said driving member being reversely rotatable todisengage the contact sets.

7. A separable connector according to claim 6 wherein said drivingmember comprises an eccentrically mounted cylinder rotatable in acircular opening in said latch member, and a rotatable lever keyed tosaid cylinder.

8. A reversible contact assembly for a separable connector comprising apair of engageable units each including a like panel of insulatingmaterial having therein a plurality of apertures, a like set ofhermaphroditic contacts received in said apertures, co-operating meansfor releasably securing the contacts in the apertures on insertionthereof from either face of said panel, and nesting means defined byaligned complementary elements on.

opposite faces of said panel for polarizing and guiding the contacts inone unit to reverse opposed relation with the contacts of the otherunit.

9. A reversible contact assembly for a separable multicontact connectorcomprising a pair of interengageable units; one of said units includinga set of contact elements, each having contact means and resilientlysupported detent means, and a panel having aperture means forcooperating with said detent means to secure the contact elements oninsertion from either face of the panel andto support said contact meansin a coaxial array; the other unit including an identical panel andcontact set inserted therein in reverse and opposed relation to saidfirst unit whereby the contact means of one unit engage the contactmeans of the other on axially moving the panels thereof face-to-face;the panels each including nesting means having axially alignedcomplementary elements on the opposite faces thereof for aligning therespective aperture means in opposition on bringing the panelsface-to-face; and means for reversibly mounting each panel in itsincorporating unit.

10. A reversible contact assembly for a separate multi-contact connectorcomprising a pair of interengageable units; one of said units includinga panel having a plurality of apertures and a set of contact elementsinserted therein, a pair of shoulder means positioned symmetrically ineach aperture relative to the opposite faces of the panel, each contactelement having a shoulder for engaging the shoulder means facing theinsertion end of the aperture and a pair of longitudinally extendinglaterally oifset spring arms, one of said spring arms defining a contactplate having a lateral end portion adapted to latch over the apertureedge to maintain said shoulder in position, the other of said springarms terminating in a contact finger projecting outwardly of the panelface; the other unit including a similar panel and contact set insertedtherein in reverse and opposed relation to said first unit whereby thecontact fingers of one unit slidably frictionally engage the contactplates of the other on axially moving the panels thereof face-to-face;the panels each including nesting means having complementary elements onthe opposite faces thereof for aligning the respective apertures inopposition on bringing the panels face-to-face; and means in said unitsfor reversibly mounting the panels therein.

11. A reversible contact assembly for a separable multi-contactconnector comprising a pair of interengageable units; one of said unitsincluding a panel having a plurality of apertures and a set of contactelements inserted therein, a pair ofshoulder means positionedsymmetrically in each aperture relative to the opposite faces of thepanel, each contact element having a shoulder for engaging one of saidshoulder means and a pair of lngitudinally extending laterally offsetspring arms, one of said spring arms defining a contact plate having alateral end portion adapted to latch over the aperture edge to maintainsaid shoulder in position, the other of said spring arms terminating ina contact finger projecting outwardly of the panel face; the other unitincluding a similar panel and contact set inserted therein in reverseand opposed relation to said first unit whereby the contact fingers ofone unit slidably frictionally engage the contact plates of the other onaxially moving the panels thereof face-to-face; and aligning means forguiding the axial movement of said panels including an axially alignedrecess and projection means on the faces of the panels.

12. A reversible contact assembly for a separable multi-contactconnector comprising a pair of interengageable units; one of said unitsincluding a set of contact elements each having a contact means andresiliently supported detent means, and a panel having aperture meansfor cooperating with said detent means to secure the contact elements ina snap fit on insertion from either face of the panel and to supportsaid contact means in a predetermined coaxial array; the other unitincluding an identical panel and contact set inserted therein in reverseand opposed relation to said first unit whereby the contact means of oneunit engage the contact means of the other on axially moving the panelsthereof face-to-face; means for reversibly mounting the panels in saidunits; and a polarized couplingmechanisrn for axially moving said unitstogether, the axial orientation of the panels in said units beingvariable relative to said coupling mechanism.

13. A separable connector comprising a pair of units havingcomplementary sets ofcontacts interengageable upon coupling the units,each contact set being carried by an insulating panel, a polarizedcoupling mechanism for said units including an operating arm in one ofsaid units engageable upon alignment in a given axial orientation with acomplementary element in the other unit, the axial orientation of saidoperating arm and complementary element being variable relative to therespective panels of said units, and polarizing means operative uponactuation of said operating arm to stop movement of said units short ofengagement of said contact sets on misorientation of said panels from apredetermined relative axial orientation.

14. A separable connector comprising a pair of units havingcomplementary sets of contacts interengageable upon coupling the units,each contact set being carried by an insulating panel, a plate having aslot, a central open ing, in the panel of one of said units and meansadjacent said opening for mounting said plate on the face of said panel,the relative axial orientation of said plate and said panel beingvariable, and means including a flat member complementary with said slotsupported in said other unit, said flat member centrally projecting fromthe face of the panel of said unit for insertion in said slot oncoupling the units, the relative axial orientation of said fiat memberand the associated panel being variable.

15. A separable connector comprising a pair of units havingcomplementary sets of contacts interengageable upon coupling the units,each contact set being carried by an insulating panel, a plate having aslot, a central opening in the panel of one of said units and meansadjacent said opening for mounting said plate on the face of said panel,the relative axial orientation of said plate and said panel beingvariable, and means including a flat member complementary with said slotsupported in said other unit, said flat member centrally projecting fromthe face of the panel of said unit for insertion in said slot oncoupling the units, the relative axial orientation of said flat memberand the associated panel being variable, and polarizing means havingcomplementary elements in the respective units for stopping couplingmovement of said units short of engagement of said contact sets forrelative axial orientations of the panels other than a predeterminedorientation.

16. A sheet metal hermaphrodite contact element adapted to be insertedin an apertured panel of an electrical connector, said contact elementcomprising a supporting section adapted to be received in an aperture ina snug fit, a contact plate extending forwardly of said supportingsection, the end portion of said contact plate being turned downwardlyto provide a detent arranged to snap over the forward edge of saidaperture on insertion of the contact element,'a spring arm extendingforwardly of said supporting section and terminating in a contact fingerbiased thereby toward the plane of said contact plate, said contactfinger being in opposed offset relation from said contact plate relativeto the axis of the contact element and extending longitudinally beyondsaid contact plate for sliding frictional engagement with the contactplate of a similar contact element supported in reverse and opposedrelation.

17. A sheet metal contact element adapted to be inserted in an aperturedpanel of an electrical connector, each aperture having an inclined wallleading to a reduced section, said contact element comprising asupporting section adapted to be received in an aperture in a snug fit,a spring arm inclined to the axis of the contact element and terminatingin a contact finger engageable with a c0- operating contact element ofthe connector, and a pressure plate connecting said spring arm andsupporting section and resiliently supported by said supporting section,said pressure plate being arranged to be cammed by the inclined apertureWall into the reduced aperture section on insertion of the contactelement to provide support and lateral bias for said spring arm.

, 18. A sheet metal hermaphrodite contact element,

adapted tobe inserted in an apertured panel of an elec trical connector,each aperture having an inclined wall leading to a reduced section, saidcontact element comprising a supporting section adapted to be receivedin an aperture in a snug fit, a contact plate extending forwardly ofsaid supporting section, a pressure plate resiliently supported by saidsupporting section and arranged to be cammed by the inclined aperturewall into the reduced aperture section on insertion of the contactelement, a spring arm extending from said pressure plate and terminatingin a contact finger biased thereby toward the plane of said contactplate, said contact finger being in opposed ofiset relation from saidcontact 13 plate relative to the axis of the contact element for slidingfrictional engagement with the contact plate of a similar contactelement supported in reverse opposed relation.

19. A sheet metal hermaphrodite contact element adapted to be insertedin an apertured panel of an electrical connector, each aperture havingan inclined wall leading to a reduced section, said contact elementcomprising a base portion, wire attaching means at the rear end of saidbase portion, means resiliently supporting a pressure plate generallyparallel to but spaced from the plane of said base portion a distancegreater than the corresponding dimension of said reduced section, aspring arm extending from the forward edge of said pressure plate andprojecting downwardly toward the plane of and laterally offset from thelongitudinal axis of said base portion, said spring arm terminating in acontact finger biased thereby below said plane, a contact plateextending forwardly of said base portion in opposed offset relation fromsaid spring arm relative to said axis, and detent means for securing thecontact element in the aperture and arranged to engage complementarymeans of the panel as said pressure plate enters the reduced section.

20. A sheet metal hermaphrodite contact element adapted to be insertedin an apertured panel of an electrical connector, said contact elementcomprising a base portion, wire attaching means at the rear end of saidbase portion, a spring arm extending forwardly of said base portion andterminating in a contact finger biased downwardly by said spring arm,shoulder means for engaging complementary means in the aperture to stopforward movement of said contact element therein, a contact plateextending forwardly of said base portion in opposed offset relation fromsaid spring arm relative to the axis of contact element, the end portionof said contact plate being turned downward ly to provide a detent forstopping reverse movement of the contact element in the aperture andarranged to snap over the forward edge of said aperture as said shouldermeans engage the complementary means.

21. For use in a unit in a contact assembly of a connector, a panel ofinsulating material including a generally rectangular main body portionhaving therein a plurality of apertures for receiving a set of contacts,nesting means for guiding the relative movement of said panel toward asimilar panel to align the respective apertures thereof including arecess in one face of said panel extending around said main body portionand a bead on the other face of said panel in axial alignment andcongruous with said recess, and means symmetrical with the panel facesfor reversibly mounting each panel in its incorporating unit so thateither face may cooperate with a similar panel in a mating unit of theconnector assembly.

22. For use in a unit in a contact assembly of an electrical connector,a panel of insulating material having a generally rectangular main bodyportion a plurality of apertures extending through said body portion forreceiving a set of contacts having contact fingers adapted to projectoutwardly of a face of the panel, nesting means for guiding the relativemovement of said panel toward a similar panel to align the respectiveapertures thereof including a recess in one face of said panel extendingaround said body portion and a peripheral head on the other face of saidpanel in axial alignment and congruous with said recess, a flangecoextensive with and projecting outwardly of said one face from theouter edge of said recess, said flange and bead projecting farther thanthe contact fingers relative to the faces of the panel, and means forreversibly mounting the panel in said unit.

23. or use in a unit in a contact assembly of an electrical connector, apanel of insulating material including a generally rectangular main bodyportion, a plurality of apertures extending through said body portionfor receiving a set of contacts, nesting means for guiding the relativemovement of said panel toward a similar panel to align the respectiveapertures thereof including a recess in one face of the panel extendingaround said body portion and a peripheral bead on the other face of thepanel in axial alignment and congruous with said recess, a flangecoextensive with and projecting outwardly of said one face from theouter edge of said recess, and polarizing means for interfering withnesting of said panel with a similar panel for axial orientationsthereof other than a given orientation, said polarizing means includingat least one bead on the inside sidewall of said flange and an alignedcomplementary groove in the outside sidewall of said peripheral bead.

24. For use in a unit in a contact assembly of a connector, a panel ofinsulation material including a main body portion having therein aplurality of apertures for receiving and supporting a set of contactelements, guide means for aligning said apertures with correspondingapertures of a similar panel including a recess in one face of the paneland means projecting from the other face of the panel in axial alignmentand congruous with said recess for nesting in the recess of a likepanel, polarizing means having complementary portions on the recess andprojecting means for stopping nesting of the projecting means for axialorientations other than a given orienta tion of said panel relative to alike panel, and means for reversibly mounting each panel in itsincorporating unit so that either face may cooperate with a similarpanel in a mating unit of the connector assembly.

25. For use in a unit in a contact assembly of a connector, a panel ofinsulation material having a main body portion, a central opening insaid body portion, integral lug members projecting laterally into saidopening and inset from both faces of the panel for supporting a keeperplate flush with either panel face, a plurality of apertures extendingthrough said body portion for receiving a set of contacts, stopshoulders means symmetrically arranged in said apertures to engagecomplementary parts of a contact on insertion from either face of thepanel, and means symmetrical relative to the panel faces for reversiblymounting the panel in said unit.

26. A contact assembly for a separable multicontact connector comprisinga pair of engageable units, each unit including a body member having aplurality of contact-receiving apertures and a set of contacts insertedtherein, each contact having a detent shoulder for abutment with acooperative shoulder of the aperture and a pair of longitudinallyextending laterally offset spring arms, one of said spring arms defininga contact plate having a lateral end portion latched over the apertureedge to maintain said detent shoulder in position, the other of saidspring arms terminating in a contact finger projecting outwardly fromthe body member face, the contact set of one unit being positioned inreverse and opposed relation to the contact set of the other unit s thatthe contact fingers of one set slidably engage the contact plates of theother set on moving the body members axially face-to-face.

27. For use in a unit in a contact assembly of a connector, a panel ofinsulating material including a generally rectangular main body portionhaving therein a plurality of apertures for receiving a set of contacts,stop shoulder means including portions laterally extending inwardly insaid apertures and disposed to engage and retain contacts inserted intoeither end of the apertures respectively, nesting means for guiding therelative movement of said panel toward a similar panel to align therespective apertures thereof, including recess means in one face of thepanel and complementary projection means on the other face of the panelin axial alignment with the recess means, and means symmetrical with thepanel faces for reversibly mounting each panel in its incorporating unitso that either face may cooperate With a similar panel in a mating unitof the connector assembly.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES 5 PATENTS Anthony Apr. 23, 1940 Walker Oct. 7, 1941Grohsgal Oct. 21, 1941 Penfold May 11, 1943 Andersen Oct. 9, 1945v Piattet a1. Sept. 3, 1946 Munsey Oct. 25, 1949 Earl Apr. 29, 1952 Burtt eta1. Sept.' 14, 1954

